English Explanatory Dictionary

brethren

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. plural of brother
  2. kinsmen
noun
  1. The body of members, especially of a fraternal, religious or military order.
adj
  1. Of or akin to; related; like
noun
  1. Members of any congregation in the Anabaptist tradition of the Schwarzenau Brethren, practicing credobaptism and committed to nonresistance and nonviolence, some of whom may wear plain dress and shun modern technology.
  2. Members of the Church of the Brethren.

Pronunciation

/ˈbɹɛðɹən/ en-us-brethren.ogg LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-brethren.wav

Word forms

brethren brethern bretheren more brethren most brethren

Etymology

From Early Modern English brethren, plural of brother, from Middle English brethren, from Middle English brethere, brether + -en (plural ending). Ultimately from Old English brōþor, brōþru (“brothers, brethren”), influenced by Old English brēþer, dative singular of brōþor (“brother”). Equivalent to brother + -en (plural ending). Compare German Brüder (“brothers, brethren”). More at brother. The vowel change (from o to e) is called umlaut.

Synonyms

Dunkard Dunker German Baptist Brethren German Baptist Tunker

Related words

Brethren brother sistren and nun friar and frater father brotherhood sisterhood fraternity siblings brother in Christ friar

Derived words

blood brethren bredrin Brethren brethren in arms brethren-in-law co-brethren half brethren half-brethren lay brethren Social Brethren step-brethren stepbrethren United Brethren uterine brethren womb-brethren River Brethren
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